On higher-order Codazzi tensors on complete Riemannian manifolds (Q2273606)

Let \((M,g)\) be a Riemannian manifold of dimension \(n\geq 2\) and let \(\nabla\) be its Levi-Civita connection. A Codazzi \(p\)-tensor (or higher-order Codazzi tensor) is a \(C^\infty\) section \(T\) of the vector bundle of symmetric differential \(p\)-forms, \(p\geq 2\), on \(M\) satisfying the equation \[ (\nabla_{X_0}T)(X_1,X_2,\ldots,X_p) = (\nabla_{X_1}T)(X_0,X_2,\ldots,X_p) \] for any tangent vector fields \(X_0\), \(X_1,\ldots,X_p\) on \(M\). In the article under review, the authors prove several Liouville-type non-existence theorems for higher-order Codazzi tensors and classical Codazzi tensors on complete Riemannian manifolds. These results are obtained by means of, among several tools, a generalized version of the Bochner technique and include applications of this method to the study of the global geometry of complete locally conformally flat Riemannian manifolds with positive constant scalar curvature and of complete hypersurfaces in a standard sphere. Indeed, in the first case, under suitable hypotheses on the Ricci tensor (which is a Codazzi tensor of order 2), the authors conclude that the manifolds under consideration are spherical space forms. In the second case, under appropriate assumptions on the second fundamental form of a connected, complete minimal hypersurface in the standard round sphere, the authors conclude that the minimal hypersurface is either an equator or is isometric to a generalized Clifford torus.